Call of Duty: Murphy Gives Back

If there is an emergency in the township, chances are David Murphy will be there. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"I enjoy giving back to the community that gave me so much," said Murphy, who has been a resident since childhood.

Murphy, 35, serves Wyckoff as a member of both the Police and Fire departments. After 17 years as a firefighter, he's currently starting his fourth year leading the department as chief, and as a police lieutenant, he's risen to the third-ranking position in the department after almost 14 years on the force. The knowledge that both positions bring is crucial for his third role, as Wyckoff's emergency management coordinator.

Murphy said his success is due to a simple approach: "When you start... it's how you pursue the career that makes it what it becomes. I chose to work hard and follow the right path, and I think it pays off." That approach has enabled him to be accepted as a leader in both departments, despite his relative youth. "If you treat everyone respectfully, it will come back to you."

His road to his current positions started as a young man. Murphy grew up around the firefighters, as his father, Robert, served in the volunteer department. He knew at a young age that he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

"Emergency services is definitely where I wanted to be. Just being around it and seeing the good that comes out of what they do."

Murphy wasted no time pursuing his passion. He signed up for the Fire Department the day after he graduated high school, and started as a police dispatcher a few years later before being hired as a patrolman in 1996. 

His quick rise through the police ranks is owed to his commitment and abilities, Chief Benjamin Fox said.

"Lt. Murphy is a complete police professional. He is a very knowledgeable officer who has successfully worked his way through the ranks with hard work and dedication to the profession and goals of the Police Department. I am fortunate to have such a qualified and committed individual assisting me," said Fox, who also described Murphy as a "credit to his community."

That sense of community found in Wyckoff certainly makes Murphy's jobs easier. The three-company Fire Department may be a volunteer force, but the chief said he's lucky to have many dedicated individuals who can balance their private commitments while still being exceptional firefighters.

"It goes to the credit of the organization that their commitment is so strong. Without the volunteers, there is no program."

And that program is not for someone with merely passing interest. Members are available 24 hours a day to respond to calls, and firefighters have mandatory training each Monday night. It's not uncommon for the Fire Department to respond to multiple calls on any given day, and the Monday training sessions can range from table-top lessons to active drills on responding to a host of emergencies. Just this past Monday, the department was practicing water rescues at Zabriskie Pond.

"We train hard.. but it can save a life," Murphy said.

His multiple positions in Wyckoff only makes each job easier, he said. Murphy described a collegial environment among the emergency services, devoid of turf squabbles. "The people involved is what makes it work so well," he said.

That environment also allows both departments to be proactive, not merely responding to problems and emergencies. Both departments have a presence in the schools and community, educating students and residents on fire and crime prevention, traffic safety and drug awareness. "If it's as simple as DARE, or as simple as putting in a car seat... little things like that go a long way," he said. 

Of course, Murphy's multiple roles can mean long days and some sleep-deprived nights. Asked how he balances his professional and personal life, he replied: "an outstanding wife.

"Without her, I'd not be as successful. I couldn't ask for a better relationship." He and wife Lynn have two young sons, and a third child is on the way.

Murphy is glad to be able to serve the community he loves and is clear that there's no town where he'd rather be.

After all, the people who live and work in Wyckoff are "exceptional people. Because of them, it's not a chore to come to work. It's actually fun."